Heya, International Bad Boy here
Sorry, I don't have much time so I will write long and out of character instead of short and in character. It would be somewhat harsh on people and I would have preferred to write in character later, but discussion moves so fast I think I have to put out my position now, since I already feel like it's too late.
-) On killing people.
It is sad that players have to go, but there would be no thrills without it. I play under assumption that people playing underdog nations know what they are signing for. Remember how the map looked IRL. Killing Rome is a public service with their position and cheaty legions. Especially high priority for me since (unite italy)->(go for greece) is first lesson in Rome 101.
-) Antigonids.
Geffalrus is strong, but so what? Seleucids are strong too, for example. I thought Carthage&co was just writing propaganda, but it looks like they actually got high on their own supply. The diadochi mechanics trick is sad, but it basically means that he can be Glorious when other people are stable (there is some doubt in that, see discussion here
https://www.slitherine.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=534 I hope if this gets fixed then Antigonids thingy will get fixed too, sorry Geffalrus
), which is a boon but not apocalyptical.
-) My alliance with Antigonids.
I will tell you a secret: before Rome and Carthage had a meltdown about poor late Morbio I was not even that close to Geffalrus, then it became my best strategy and I'm glad for that because it is all fun and profit so far. Nobody ever messaged me in private and tried to flip me over to their side. I don't want to be small player sandwitched between Antigonids and Rome and whoever. Antigonids grew, but I grew too, Rome is no more. Sorry you were not included in my plans, but I don't have to, and you did not ask (upd. that's for everybody who complains, not just Rome).
-) Italian war
I feel uneasy discussing peoples skills out of character, but since my own strategy is called into question I hope I will be forgiven.
I think the public grossly underestimates how dangerous the invasion of Italy was. Being out of supply is deadly. Yes, we brought huge forces, but we had to. We were discussing possible defeat up until my victories, which didn't have to happen, see below.
Rome severely underutilized Garrison mechanics. Just sit in a fortress for a turn and recover. Then you can be attacking side which is very beneficial against our armies. I won by a thread and any setback would have been a catastrophy. This also would have allowed for Carthage to come help properly, and maybe Avernii and certainly Lysimachos, who already went all in anyway.
Also, these velites should be replaced with light cav (although I understand if you have gripes with such minmaxing, so that is a minor point).
-) Avernii
I don't see any in game reasons for Avernii to be so sad. He has whole Gaul, Britain and possibly Spain to expand. Nobody wants to invade his forests, Greek phalanxes suck in forests. I actually sent him peace proposal before because of that. Just accept my proposal and do your thing instead of throwing a tantrum. Again, I suppose the western block wants to turn me on Geffalrus. How creating insecurity on my sensitive borders supposed to help with that? Avernii can win by legacy condition because iirc he will control all his objectives and infinite territory.
tl;dr
Stay calm and keep playing. Use diplomacy, not propaganda. Put your nation first, this is both in the spirit of the game AND in the spirit of time period. Leave altruism for IRL.
Probably forgot two thirds of the points I wanted to make, but that is it for now.